Apparatus for imaging the inner part of a body, particularly or diagnostic imaging thereof

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for imaging the inner part of a body, particularly for diagnostic imaging thereof, including at least means for imaging and displaying images according to at least one type of beams, waves or signals transmitted toward a body or a part thereof to be examined, the said means being means for generating at least one type of waves or beams which are transmitted toward the body or the part thereof to be internally imaged and means for receiving said type of waves or beams transmitted by the body under examination or by the part thereof or deriving from the excitation of said part or body under examination, from the reflection and/or transmission and/or modification of waves, of the beams transmitted against said body under examination or the part thereof;

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to an apparatus for imaging the internalpart of a body, particularly for diagnostic imaging thereof.Particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for imaging theinternal part of a body, particularly for diagnostic imaging thereof,comprising at least means for generating at least one type of waves orbeams which are transmitted toward the body or the part thereof to beinternally imaged and means for receiving said type of waves or beamstransmitted by the body under examination or by the part thereof orderiving from the excitation of said part or body under examination,from the reflection and/or transmission and/or modification of waves, ofthe beams transmitted against said body under examination or the partthereof, there being provided means for univocally relating theinformation of the waves or beams retransmitted by the body underexamination or the part thereof, to a space position of an image unitelement (so-called pixel or voxel) and means for reconstructing theimage from the array of pixels or voxels obtained thereby, which relatethe information of the received waves or beams to brightness and/orcolor characteristics of the individual pixels.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Such apparatuses are well-known and include ultrasound imagingapparatuses, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatuses, X-Rayapparatuses, etc.

[0005] A particular kind of such medical examination devices, especiallyrelating to nuclear magnetic resonance imaging devices, so calleddedicated MRI devices are very interesting due to their low costs andtheir simple and cheap installation which do not give rise to problemsas the one arising from a very high weight or the need of very largerooms which has also to be shielded against electromagnetic noise of thesurrounding environment. Dedicated MRI devices are able to carry outimaging of limited body parts or anatomical districts and thereforeoften there is the need to have more than one device. Thus there is theneed of further reducing their overall volume by effectively integratingthe single parts forming this devices.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,717 deals with the hardware integration ofMRI apparatuses by providing a hardware architecture which integrates ahigh amount of the hardware in a commercially available personalcomputer. U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,717 teaches to house the hardware of theapparatus in an dedicated console which is separated from the otherparts of the apparatus. This has the drawback that a considerable amountof place is needed since the personal computer and at least the inputdevices and the monitor associated thereto needs a table or a furniturewhere the computer case and the said peripherals has to be placed.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY

[0007] Nevertheless it is also possible to further integrate thestructure of such devices in order to limit weight and overall volume.

[0008] The present invention aims provide an apparatus for imaging theinternal part of a body which has a high level of structural integrationensuring at the same time to show a relatively friendly appearance forthe patient and the maximum possible comfort for the person operatingthe device.

[0009] This aims have to be reached without increasing the costs of theapparatus and on the contrary by further limiting such costs.

[0010] Thanks to the fact that the hardware is housed inside the case orthe frame of the a case or frame for housing and or supporting the meansfor generating, transmitting and receiving the waves or beams, theadditional furniture or cabinet for housing the hardware is no morenecessary.

[0011] Alternatively the hardware can be housed in the console forhousing at least the command and control input means an the at least onemonitor for displaying the image data.

[0012] Alternatively the hardware can also be housed at the patientsupporting element, such as a patient chair, a table/chair, a table, orthe like in the structure or frame thereof.

[0013] According to the preferred embodiment the hardware is housedpartially or completely in the case or the frame for housing and orsupporting the means for generating, transmitting and receiving thewaves or beams and/or partially or completely at the patient supportingelement, such as a patient chair, a table/chair, a table, or the like inthe structure or frame thereof and/or partially or completely in aconsole for housing the command and control input means an the at leastone monitor for displaying the image data.

[0014] According to a further improvement, the console for housing thecommand and control input means an the at least one monitor fordisplaying the image data is supported by the case or the frame forhousing and or supporting the means for generating, transmitting andreceiving the waves or beams or by the patient supporting element, suchas a patient chair, a table/chair, a table, or the like by the structureor frame thereof by means of a combination of articulated levers whichallow to displace the console in one or more directions.

[0015] The console is designed having a form similar to a lap-topcomputer or a notebook computer, since the hardware is housed in thestructure of the patient supporting means or of the case or frame of themeans for generating, transmitting and receiving the waves or beams.

[0016] The high integration of the hardware allow also to integrate inthe same frames or cases for the means for generating, transmitting andreceiving the waves or beams, and in the same console for the commandand control input means an the at least one monitor for displaying theimage data the hardware and the peripheral control units for twodifferent kinds of medical examination devices as a nuclear magneticresonance imaging device and a as a ultrasound imaging device. Obviouslyother kind of medical examination devices might be considered in placeof the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device or of the ultrasoundimaging device.

[0017] Further medical examining devices might be integrated in the samestructure.

[0018] The dependent claims deals with further improvements andembodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The features of the present invention and the advantages derivingthere from will appear more clearly from the following description ofpreferred embodiments illustrated in the annexed drawings in which:

[0020]FIGS. 1 and 2 are two perspective views, in two differentdirections, and with the table in different orientations, of anintegrated imaging apparatus according to the invention.

[0021] FIGS. 3 to 5 are different perspective views of the apparatus asshown in FIG. 1, in which the magnetic structure of the Nuclear MagneticResonance imaging device is omitted, and the console is shown indifferent operating and rest positions.

[0022]FIG. 6 shows a variant embodiment of the integrated apparatus asshown in FIGS. 1 to 5, in which the magnetic structure is very small andhas an inverted U or C shape.

[0023]FIGS. 7 and 8 show a variant of the integrated apparatus, in whichthe magnetic structure of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging deviceis mounted with the table on a common guide for a controlled andmeasurable relative displacement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024]FIGS. 1 and 2 show an integrated apparatus for imaging,particularly and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatus or such anapparatus integrated with an ultrasound imaging apparatus. The NuclearMagnetic Resonance imaging device comprises a magnetic structuregenerally denoted as 1, which includes a permanent, resistive orsuperconducting magnet for generating a static field in a cavity 101designed to receive a part of the patient body; coils for transmittingradio-frequency pulses for exciting nuclear spins, gradient coils forapplying selecting and phase and frequency encoding gradients andreceiving coils. All these elements are known per se and are not shownin detail.

[0025] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the magnetic structure 1 is contained in aseparate case and has a peripherally closed annular shape, with twoopposite open sides. The case including the magnetic structure 1 has twolateral extensions 201 which form a cabinet-like enclosure in the formof a shielded electrical cabinet for housing at least a part or all ofthe processing electronics.

[0026] This electronics may comprise With reference now to the NuclearMagnetic Resonance imaging device, the latter generally comprises,besides the magnetic structure 1, circuits for generating the excitationsequences and for capturing images and circuits for receiving nuclearspin echoes, which contain the information, i.e. the data for imagereconstruction, as well as circuits for reconstructing images, i.e. forextracting image data from received signals and for relating said datato the space location wherefrom it is transmitted, hence to an imagepixel. Further, the device comprises circuits for controlling andsetting the modes of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging device, andcircuits for processing, display and storage of reconstructed images.

[0027] A patient table 2, in the form of a table/chair is associated tothe magnetic structure 1. Particularly, the table is shorter than thepatient body and, in the portion associated to the lower limbs,substantially reaches the knee level, but is able to extend beyond it bya footrest element 102 which may be displaced to various positions, forinstance to a lowered and tilted position parallel to the ground with afootrest function, or to a lowered and vertically tilted positionagainst the end side of the table or even to a position in which itextends and completes the surface of the table. A detailed constructionexample of a table of this type is provided in the published patentapplication EP 913 122.

[0028] Particularly, the table is mounted on an intermediate carriagewhich consists of a cabinet-like element 202. At one of its end sides,particularly the one associated to the lower limbs, the table has avertical leg 302, also in the form of a carriage, which extendssubstantially all along the table, thereby having the function of a pairof traditional legs.

[0029] A control console 3 is associated to the patient table 2,particularly but without limitation to the end opposite to the oneassociated to the lower limbs.

[0030] The control console 3 has an upper surface with the differentultrasound imaging controls and advantageously an ultra-slim display103, e.g. a liquid crystal display, which is articulated to the console3 in such a manner as to allow it to be tilted to a lifted operatingposition and to a rest position in which it lays over the upper face ofthe console 3.

[0031] The control console 3 is secured to a support structure 4 formedby swinging arms 104 and supporting and sliding beams 204, in such amanner that it can be displaced relative to the vertical level, swungforward and rearward, and translated transverse to the longitudinal axisof the table 2.

[0032] These displacements may be obtained by using any supportstructure construction, depending on the structure and on the aspect ofthe table. In the embodiment as shown in the Figures, and withparticular reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, the support structure 4 of theconsole 3 has at least one transverse support guide 204 for transversesliding, for example extending telescopically or as a rod sliding inslide supports, whereon at least two swinging arms 104 are mounted,which are spaced in the axial direction of the guide 204, and arearticulated by their opposite ends to the case of the console 3. Theguide 204 may be secured to the lower side of the table 2 by one or moreadditional vertical and/or longitudinal guides (with reference to thelongitudinal axis of the table) and/or with rotary joints according to avertical axis. The two arms 104 may themselves be secured to the consolecase 3 to pivot about it with the interposition of a rotary joint forthe rotation of the console 3 with respect to a vertical axis. Also, theguide 204 may slide in the transverse direction to such an extent as toallow the console to slide independently on one side or the other of thetable 2. As an alternative to the illustrated means, the console may besupported by a jointed arm which may have one or more successive armsections, connected to each other by spherical or cardan joints, and isfastened to the structure of the table. The jointed arm may befabricated as is known, for instance for display supporting arms, or thelike, with the appropriate changes required by the conditions ofdisplacement of the console 3 relative to the table 2. Advantageously,both the illustrated structure 3 and the possibly provided jointed armhave cavities wherein the wires for connecting the console 3 to otherelectronic units associated to the imaging devices may pass and behoused.

[0033] Thanks to the above construction, the console 3 may be displacedto any position relative to the table 2. Particularly, there areprovided an operating position adjacent to one of the sides of the table2 and a rest position, in which, after tilting the display into the restposition, against the upper surface of the console, the latter may becompletely displaced under the surface of the table.

[0034] Thanks to this construction, besides ensuring the highestoperational convenience, the retractable position of the console withinthe size of the table allows to reduce the damaging risks, for instance,while displacing the console, and to prevent any hindrance to thefreedom of movement of the personnel when intervening on the patient.

[0035] Here, in order to maintain a relatively limited size of theconsole 3, the cabinet-like base 202 of the table 2 is provided in theform of an electrical cabinet for housing at least a part or all of theprocessing electronics of at least part of the circuits for generatingthe excitation sequences and for capturing images and circuits forreceiving nuclear spin echoes, which contain the information, i.e. thedata for image reconstruction, as well as circuits for reconstructingimages, i.e. for extracting image data from received signals and forrelating said data to the space location wherefrom it is transmitted,hence to an image pixel. Further, the device comprises, like theultrasound imaging device, circuits for controlling and setting themodes of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging device, and circuits forprocessing, display and storage of reconstructed images.

[0036] According to an advantageous embodiment, the electronics isappropriately divided between the console 2 and the cabinet-like base202 of the table 2 and the extensions 201 of the case of the magneticstructure 1.

[0037] All the electronic circuits distributed in the console 3, in thecabinet like base 202 of the table 2 and in the lateral extensions 201of the case of the magnetic structure 1 are connected together bycommunication lines which are preferably electro magnetically shieldedin order not to generate disturbs.

[0038] According to a further embodiment of FIG. 6, a magnetic structuremay be provided which is displaced relative to the patient table, henceto the body under examination or the part thereof to a predeterminedextent an in predetermined directions.

[0039] In this case, the magnetic structure 1 or the patient table 2, orboth may be displaced relative to each other.

[0040] In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, there is provided at leastone guide 34 on which the table 2 and/or the magnetic structure 1 and/orboth are mounted to be displaced on slides or carriages.

[0041] Furthermore, the table 2 and/or the magnetic structure 1 and/orboth may be arranged to rotate at least about a vertical axis.

[0042] Position locating means may be provided which determine therelative position of the table 2, i.e. the patient and the magneticstructure 1.

[0043] In FIG. 6, the magnetic structure has a C or u shape and is muchsmaller than the table, a surface of the said magnetic structure beingshaped in such a way as to form displaceable inserts which complete thetable 2. More recesses might be provided in the table which are openedon one longitudinal side thereof and which are shaped correspondingly tothe horizontal pole of the magnetic structure. For closing the recesswhich is not used or completed by the magnetic structure a complementaryinsert is provided.

[0044] The magnetic structure as well as the table may be mounted oncarriages and may be displaceable freely or by means of guides one withrespect to the other.

[0045] As it might appear clearly form the above description, providingseveral cabinet like premises in the structure of the case of themagnetic structure 1 and in the structure or frame of the table allow tohave a lot of place for housing the hardware needed for driving theapparatus and for processing the image data in order to display theimages. This fact dories not only allow to have a command input consolewith integrated display which is very small ad has a lap-top or notebookcomputer like shape and/or dimension but allows also to have place forhousing further hardware for integrating in the same device a furtherdifferent imaging apparatus for example an ultrasound imaging apparatus.

[0046] In this condition the hardware specifically designed for thenuclear magnetic resonance imaging device may be housed in theextensions 201 of the case of the magnetic structure, while the hardwareof the ultrasound imaging device may be housed in the cabinet-like base202 of the table 2.

[0047] Particularly, the base 202 contains the typical electroniccircuits, specifically dedicated to the control of the ultrasonic probefor the transmission of ultrasonic waves, focusing thereof and receptionof reflected waves, the reconstruction according to the focusing ruleand the processing of received signals as regards the extraction of datauseful for imaging and correlation thereof to a precise space positionand to a precise and unique pixel of the image to be displayed.Moreover, these circuits may also comprise all the sections forfiltering and for processing the data extracted from the receivedsignals with various processing modes, such as those known as B-Mode,Harmonic Imaging, Doppler, Color Doppler and other data processing andextraction modes. When devices for detecting other data or physiologicalparameters, e.g. an electrocardiogram are provided, the cabinet 202 mayalso contain the control and processing units of these devices andpossibly the units for synchronizing the signal of the electrocardiogramor other devices, for instance with the electronics of the ultrasoundimaging device, such as in the apparatuses known as “stress ultrasoundimaging” or the like.

[0048] On the other hand, besides the command input devices and theimages display monitor for the nuclear magnetic resonance imagingdevice, the console 3 includes the electronic circuits for controllingand setting the ultrasound imaging modes, the circuits for imageprocessing and controlling the display means and the means for settingthe display and detection controls also for the ultrasound imagingdevice, such as the selection of imaging modes, amongst the modesmentioned above (B-Mode, Harmonic Imaging, Doppler, Color Doppler, andother data processing and extraction methods).

[0049] Advantageously, according to a preferred embodiment, thededicated circuits of the ultrasound imaging system in the cabinet 202and those of the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device in theextensions 201 of the magnetic structure case 1 communicate with theconsole 3 via communication interfaces which encode the data to beexchanged between the console 3 and the dedicated control and processingcircuits contained in the cabinets with a common structure, for instancea so-called bidirectional communication bus.

[0050] Mass storage means may be also associated to the console 3 or thecabinet 202, such as hard disks, or the like, means for reading orwriting removable data storage media, such as floppy disks, CR-Rom,CD-R, CD-RW and/or flashcard memories or the like, and/or other outputperipherals, such as printers and/or other data entry peripherals, suchas scanners or the like.

[0051] Advantageously, the console 3 has a microprocessor unit, thefunctions thereof being implemented in software form.

[0052] This structure may be easily used to also integrate, in theapparatus of the invention, a program for processing, storage andcentralized control of the diagnostic data of the patient, obtainedeither through the specific analyses performable by the integratedapparatus or through other apparatuses, which may be entered in thepatient diagnostic data control program through the various data entrymeans as mentioned above.

[0053] According to a possible alternative embodiment, two separateconsoles (not shown in detail) may be provided each one dedicated onlyto the nuclear magnetic imaging device and to the ultrasound imagingdevice. Nevertheless, by using the same circuit configuration as theultrasound imaging device, the specific part for controlling themagnetic structure and the associated units like excitation coils,gradient coils, etc., and the specific part designed to receive echosignals, to reconstruct and extract image data and relate it to aspecific pixel of an array of image pixels, may be housed wholly orpartly in the case of the magnetic structure 1 whereas the imageprocessing means are housed wholly or partly in the cabinet 202 sincethis hardware section may show several identical units as the onesneeded for processing ultrasound image data and thus may be sharedbetween the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device and the ultrasoundimaging device.

[0054] Here, the processing and control electronics of the NuclearMagnetic Resonance imaging device should be provided with acommunication interface, i.e. a bidirectional bus for communication withthe console 3, which is of the same type as the one used for the controland processing electronics of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0055] By this arrangement, the means for image processing and displaycontrol may be the same as used in the ultrasound imaging device.

[0056] Mass storage means, data entry means, like scanners or the like,for entering data detected by other separate devices and/or datatransmission means, like printers or the like may also be shared by thetwo types of devices.

[0057] If the ultrasound imaging device also comprises an ECG unit, thelatter may be also interfaced with the Nuclear Magnetic Resonanceimaging device, like the ultrasound imaging device, through means forsynchronizing resonance imaging with the physiological parametersdetected by the ECG.

[0058] According to an additional characteristic, the console 3 may haveimage processing means which combine images of the same section obtainedby the ultrasound imaging device and by the Nuclear Magnetic Resonanceimaging device. In this case, the advantage consists in the possibilityto mutually combine the information of the image obtained by ultrasoundimaging and that obtained by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging. Besidesobtaining better and more complete results, this combination option mayallow to use imaging modes of a reduced duration and complexity for bothdevices, since even the characteristics that are hardly visible throughan imaging method may be visible through the other imaging method.

[0059] The combination may be simply obtained by displaying the twoimages obtained each with one of the two imaging methods sequentially orside by side, or by overlaying the two images, or even by a realcombination and mutual integration of the image data obtained by the twoimaging modes.

[0060] Since the simultaneous use of the two imaging methods may causeadverse effects on one of the two imaging modes, e.g. the presence ofultrasonic transducer power may generate noise which cause the formationof artifacts in the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging signals, the twodevices are arranged to be operated in fast alternate succession, on atime-sharing basis. To this end, the console 3 has means for enteringtime sharing parameters, and a control unit is provided which, based onsaid parameters, controls the alternate operation of said two imagingdevices.

[0061] Nevertheless, the two modes may be also used in combination, forinstance with the help of contrast agents which are caused to burst orbe destroyed by the power provided by the ultrasonic probe, whereasimaging is performed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance in these conditionsof the contrast agents.

[0062] Possibly, the table structure 2 may integrate the control anddedicated processing circuits signals of devices for detecting furtherphysiological parameters, such as ECG, EMG, EGG, and the circuits forsynchronizing the ultrasound imaging and Nuclear Magnetic Resonanceimaging processes with said parameters.

[0063] Although only preferred embodiments are specifically illustratedand described herein, it will be appreciated that many modifications andvariations of the present invention are possible in light of the aboveteachings and within the purview of the appended claims withoutdeparting from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.

1. An apparatus for imaging the inner part of a body, particularly fordiagnostic imaging thereof, comprising at least means for imaging anddisplaying images according to at least one type of beams, waves orsignals transmitted toward a body or a part thereof to be examined, thesaid means being: Means (1) for generating at least one type of waves orbeams which are transmitted toward the body or the part thereof to beinternally imaged and means for receiving said type of waves or beamstransmitted by the body under examination or by the part thereof orderiving from the excitation of said part or body under examination,from the reflection and/or transmission and/or modification of waves, ofthe beams transmitted against said body under examination or the partthereof electronic means for driving and controlling the waves or beamsgenerating, transmitting and receiving means; electronic means forprocessing the received beams or waves from the body under examinationor part thereof and transforming the received signals in displayableimage data; command and control input means; at least one monitor fordisplaying the image data; a case or frame for housing and or supportingthe means (1) for generating, transmitting and receiving the waves orbeams; a case (201, 202, 3) for housing at least part of the electronicmeans for driving and controlling the waves or beams generating,transmitting and receiving means and the electronic means for processingthe received beams or waves from the body under examination or partthereof and transforming the received signals in displayable image data;a console (3) for housing at least the command and control input meansan the at least one monitor for displaying the image data; characterizedin that the case (201) for housing at least part of the electronic meansfor driving and controlling the waves or beams generating, transmittingand receiving means and the electronic means for processing the receivedbeams or waves from the body under examination or part thereof andtransforming the received signals in displayable image data is formed atleast partially by the case or frame for housing and or supporting themeans (1) for generating, transmitting and receiving the waves or beams.2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the case(3) for housing at least part of the electronic means for driving andcontrolling the waves or beams generating, transmitting and receivingmeans and the electronic means for processing the received beams orwaves from the body under examination or part thereof and transformingthe received signals in displayable image data is formed at leastpartially by the a console for housing at least the command and controlinput means an the at least one monitor for displaying the image data.3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it furthercomprises it includes a patient supporting element (2), such as apatient chair, a table/chair, a table, or the like, being the case forhousing at least part of the electronic means for driving andcontrolling the waves or beams generating, transmitting and receivingmeans and the electronic means for processing the received beams orwaves from the body under examination or part thereof and transformingthe received signals in displayable image data formed at least partiallyby a part (202) of the structure of the said patient supporting element(2), such as a patient chair, a table/chair, a table, or the like.
 4. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the console (3)for housing at least the command and control input means an the at leastone monitor for displaying the image data is in the form of a lap topcomputer case or of a notebook computer and is supported by articulatedmeans (4, 104, 204) at the case or frame for housing and or supportingthe means (1) for generating, transmitting and receiving the waves orbeams.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that theconsole (1) for housing at least the command and control input means anthe at least one monitor for displaying the image data is in the form ofa lap top computer case or of a notebook computer and is supported byarticulated means (4, 104, 204) at the structure or a frame of a patientsupporting element (2), such as a patient chair, a table/chair, a table,or the like.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe case (201, 202, 3) for housing at least part of the electronic meansfor driving and controlling the waves or beams generating, transmittingand receiving means and the electronic means for processing the receivedbeams or waves from the body under examination or part thereof andtransforming the received signals in displayable image data is electromagnetically shielded.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1,characterized in that a communication line is provided between the partsof the electronic means for driving and controlling the waves or beamsgenerating, transmitting and receiving means and the electronic meansfor processing the received beams or waves from the body underexamination or part thereof and transforming the received signals indisplayable image data housed in the case or frame for housing and orsupporting the means for generating, transmitting and receiving thewaves or beams and/or the console for housing at least the command andcontrol input means an the at least one monitor for displaying the imagedata and/or part of the structure of the said patient supportingelement, such as a patient chair, a table/chair, a table, or the like.8. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that theelectronic means for driving and controlling the waves or beamsgenerating, transmitting and receiving means (1) and the electronicmeans for processing the received beams or waves from the body underexamination or part thereof and transforming the received signals indisplayable image data are housed (201) in parts (201) of the case orframe for housing and or supporting the means for generating,transmitting and receiving the waves or beams which parts have patientsupporting or sheating functions.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 1,characterized in that the table, chair or table/chair (2) has at leastone cabinet-like base block element (202) for housing, at least partly,the electronic circuits of the imaging devices the case for housing atleast part of the electronic means for driving and controlling the wavesor beams generating, transmitting and receiving means and the electronicmeans for processing the received beams or waves from the body underexamination or part thereof and transforming the received signals indisplayable image data.
 10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9,characterized in that the at least one cabinet-like base block element(202) of the chair, table or table/chair (2) includes at least a mediansupport member in the form of a three-dimensional pedestal, enclosing aspace for housing, at least partly, the electronic circuits of theimaging devices the case for housing at least part of the electronicmeans for driving and controlling the waves or beams generating,transmitting and receiving means and the electronic means for processingthe received beams or waves from the body under examination or partthereof and transforming the received signals in displayable image data.11. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that theelectronic circuits of the imaging devices the case for housing at leastpart of the electronic means for driving and controlling the waves orbeams generating, transmitting and receiving means and the electronicmeans for processing the received beams or waves from the body underexamination or part thereof and transforming the received signals indisplayable image data are housed completely in the case (201) or framefor housing and or supporting the means (1) for generating, transmittingand receiving the waves or beams and/or in the structure or a frame(202) of a patient supporting element (2), such as a patient chair, atable/chair, a table, or the like and/or in the console (3) for housingat least the command and control input means an the at least one monitorfor displaying the image data.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 1,characterized in that the console (3) is directly supported by thestructure of the table, chair or table/chair (2), via articulated and/orjointed means (4, 104, 204).
 13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12,characterized in that the console is supported by one or more jointedarms and/or by a combination of swinging beams and arms or levers (104),which are jointed to each other in such a manner as to allow differentdegrees of freedom of motion and particularly in the vertical direction,transverse to the longitudinal axis of the table, chair or table/chairand/or a swinging motion about a horizontal axis and/or about a verticalaxis.
 14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that theconsole is supported by a slide (204) which runs on horizontal means,transverse to the longitudinal axis of the table, chair or table/chairwhereto it is articulated in such a manner as to be movable angularlyabout an axis parallel to said guide, via at least one pair of swingingarms (104), whereby said console (3) may be swung between a level abovethe supporting surface or another part of the table, chair ortable/chair and a level below said supporting surface or said other partof the chair or table or table/chair, and even translated transverse tothe longitudinal axis of the table to a position in which it is adjacentthereto, and at least retracted in such a manner as to essentiallydisappear under the surface or a portion of the chair, table ortable/chair (2).
 15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, characterizedin that the transverse guide (204) extends to such an extent relative tothe table, chair and/or table/chair (2) whereby the console (3) may betranslated from an adjacent position on one side to an adjacent positionon the opposite side.
 16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12,characterized in that the console (3) is supported by at least oneswinging arm (104) on the chair, table and/or table/chair (2), which armis articulated, e.g. via a spherical joint connection, to the consoleand/or to the table, chair or table/chair.
 17. An apparatus as claimedin claim 16, characterized in that the arm is arranged to be jointedand/or to consist of more articulated sections.
 18. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in that said apparatus includes aNuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging and displaying device or anultrasound imaging and displaying device.
 19. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that said apparatus includes a NuclearMagnetic Resonance imaging and displaying device or an ultrasoundimaging and displaying device integrated in the same apparatus.
 20. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the electronicmeans for driving and controlling the waves or beams generating,transmitting and receiving means and the electronic means for processingthe received beams or waves from the body under examination or partthereof and transforming the received signals in displayable image dataof the nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus and of the ultrasoundimaging apparatus are both housed completely in the case or frame forhousing and or supporting the means for generating, transmitting andreceiving the waves or beams and/or in the structure or a frame of apatient supporting element, such as a patient chair, a table/chair, atable, or the like and/or in the console for housing at least thecommand and control input means an the at least one monitor fordisplaying the image data.
 21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19,characterized in that the command and control input means and the atleast one monitor for displaying the image data of the nuclear magneticresonance imaging device and of the ultrasound imaging device are housedin a common console and/or in separated individual consoles for eachimaging device.
 22. An apparatus according to claim 20, characterized inthat the consoles are placed each on one side of the chair or patientsupporting table.
 23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, characterizedin that the common console comprises means for entering specificcommands for each type of imaging devices, which means are separated foreach of the specific imaging device and/or shared by all imagingdevices.
 24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in thatthe magnetic structure of the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging deviceis connected and the chair or table/chair are displaceable relativelyone to the other being the said magnetic structure and/or the said chairor table/chair mounted on combinations of guides and carriages which arelinked to the magnetic structure and or to the table, chair ortable/chair.
 25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, characterized inthat tracer means are provided for locating the relative position and/ororientation between the table, chair or table/chair and the magneticstructure are associated to the combination of guides or carriages fordisplacing the magnetic structure and/or the table, chair ortable/chair.
 26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized inthat the magnetic structure and/or the table, chair or table/chair maybe freely displaced relative to each other, there being provided traceror sensor means, for instance relative position detecting proximitysensors.